In my first year, I was given the opportunity to play with the Britten-Pears Orchestra. We performed a number of concerts and our CD, recorded at one of those concerts, went on to win the BBC Music Magazine Award for Best Opera Recording.

Andrew McCoy
BMus Tenor Trombone

Working in pairs during the MA has helped me developer a deeper understanding of how opera composers work and how to spark their imaginations with a libretto.

Zoe Palmer (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

The relationship between the Barbican, BBC, and Guildhall is absolutely invaluable as it provides opportunities for students that cannot be found elsewhere.

Emiko Edwards
MPerf Piano

I feel that the people here really make the institution. I found Guildhall to be a really supportive environment that gave me room to explore, take risks, and mature as a mucisian, and as a human being.

Francesca Chiejina
MPerf Vocal Studies

Writing music for theatre has been a highlight of my time at Guildhall, as it has allowed me to explore an art form in which I have a great amount of interest and to work towards a professional finished product.

Alexander Hall
BMus Composition

Barbican is a key partner of Guildhall, and we can often get artists who perform there to do a masterclass or project with us, and we often do performances at Barbican events.

Ieva Vaitiekunaite
BMus Electronic Music

Whether it is in sit-in rehearsals, side-by-side projects or chamber orchestra sessions, the LSO players offer invaluable guidance and provide a glimpse of the exceptional standards we aspire towards.

Rees Webster
MPerf Oboe (Orchestral Artistry)

I was excited to cover a role in the UK premiere of Andrew Norman's 'A Trip to the Moon' in the Barbican, have a solo recital at LSO St Luke's and also to sing on the stage of Wigmore Hall.

Mirjam Mesak
MPerf Vocal Studies

I knew about the fantastic tutoring and resources, but the friendly and stimulating environment clinched it for me.

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

I had the opportunity to play percussion with the Guildhall Studio Orchestra which gave me the chance to learn from, and play alongside, amazing senior players, as well as to perform with the incredible Liane Carroll.

Dave Adsett
BMus Jazz Drums

Guildhall is an institution that knows it has to be connected to the outside world - that's the key thing. It's not a bubble. It has roots in the city and in the world.

Jonathan Ferrucci
Artist Diploma Piano

One minute you could be playing in the Guildhall Studio Orchestra with jazz musicians, the next you could be playing in the opera pit, then the next minute you'll b e with actors doing the musical and then playing a symphony in the orchestra.

Millie Ashton
BMus Violin

The departmental philosophy of returning opera back to something that is essentially produced as part of a company is a really great thing.

Klara Kofen (writer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

The quality of teaching is amazingly high. With the guidance and help that I've been given, I feel my work has got dramatically better over a short space of time.

Lucy Armstrong (composer)
MA Opera Making and Writing

I set up a piano trio when I arrived, and we have weekly coaching with members of the Endellion Quartet and the faculty. It has been very rewarding.

Leo Popplewell
MMus Cello

It seemed like this was a place to go and experience a complete world of art and performance and see what happened - a place that really encouraged you to make things that you want to make.

Stage 3: before and during your mobility

Where do I stay?

This is your responsibility. Many institutions are unable to offer Erasmus students space in their student halls of residence, however they will be able to offer advice to help you make your own arrangements. If you are unsure of the contact details of your host institution’s Erasmus Coordinator, please contact erasmus@gsmd.ac.uk

As soon as your place is confirmed you should start searching for accommodation. You will also need to ensure arrangements are made for your London accommodation ready for your return (and while you are away if appropriate); Student Affairs can advise and assist, please contact julia.oliver@gsmd.ac.uk

Who arranges my travel?

You are also responsible for making your own travel arrangements. You should prepare as soon as your mobility dates are confirmed. Please bear in mind that your Erasmus grant is only a contribution to your costs, so you should not expect it to cover all travel/accommodation costs.

Insurance and Health

It is important to ensure that you have valid travel and health insurance for the duration of your stay in your host country.

Students will need to apply for a Student European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This is a special time-limited EHIC for students who are going abroad on a study or work placement which lasts longer than 6 weeks. Even if you already hold a normal EHIC, you will need to apply for the separate Student EHIC as the regular EHIC will not be valid for study/work placements in EEA counties which last longer than 6 weeks. Please visit the NHS website for more information and how to apply.

It is also recommended that you take out a private insurance policy to cover you for loss of instrument, personal possessions, missed flights etc.

How can I prepare?

Do you want to visit a particular city? Are you keen to study with a particular teacher, or at a specific institution? Whatever your motivation for doing the Erasmus programme, you should thoroughly research your options and find out more about other students’ experiences. You might find the following websites and articles useful at this stage:

Global GraduatesThough this site is primarily targeted at students studying Modern Languages who take a year to study or work abroad as part of their degree, it nevertheless has lots of information useful to anyone thinking of studying abroad, including: accommodation advice, money management, culture shock, extra-curricular activities, and jobs, as well as first-hand accounts of study abroad.

Erasmus+The official Facebook page for Erasmus+, the EU’s new programme for education, training, youth and sport (2014-2020).

UK Council for International Student AffairsThough UKCISA is for students coming from overseas to study in the UK, their information on culture shock and its different ‘stages’, along with their tips for coping, can also be helpful for students at UK institutions who are preparing to study abroad.

Study abroad: making the move - following an unexpected night in a hotel and the purchase of an ill-fitting fleece duvet cover, James Connington offers advice to students making the move abroad (Telegraph, September 2014)

Information about the Online Linguistic Support (OLS) progamme. The OLS offers participants in Erasmus mobility activities the opportunity to assess their skills in the foreign language(s) they will use to study, and the opportunity to follow an online language course to improve their competence (selected languages)